The bonds firm receives its money back if the defendant appears in court as necessary. If the defendant obtained a bail bond, the 10% premium cost paid is non-refundable. Our bail experts also answer many important questions on how bail bonds work in Texas and how much bail bonds cost. Instead, the accused signs a commitment stating that they will attend all court dates. Many bail bond agencies require a 10 percent of the total bail amount non-refundable fee. If the crime was serious or violent, such as rape or murder or if the defendant has served a lengthy sentence in jail, bail or felony bail bonds will not be granted. Paying the bail amount does not automatically release a defendant from responsibility until his or her court date; posting bail may entail additional restrictions and impose specific penalties for violating these rules. "description": "What You Need To Know About The Texas Bail Bond Process", For example, the bail bond for a defendant with bail set at $10,000 would be $1,000. In the criminal justice system, there are two types of cases-felonies and misdemeanors. If it is not posted, he or she will undoubtedly stay in custody for a trial. Your bondsman will give you the exact amount. The payment of bail does two things: It grants the defendant freedom (at least . The amount of bail varies by jurisdiction and crime, but the judge usually has discretion. Everything You Need To Know About How Does A Bail Bond Work In Texas, How Can A Bail Bond Help If You Are In Trouble, Are Bail Bonds Refundable And Other Questions To Ask A Local Texas Bail Bondsman, Why a Full-Service Law Firm Is a Great Choice for You, A resident of a community for many decades, Family members are welcome to join the community, Always appeared in court for previous charges. It is used instead of paying the whole amount of bail that a court has set for releasing a defendant. In the case of a PSBU, the cost is $200 in many parishes, as well as court costs other charges. Defendants unable to pay their bail may employ a bail bondsman to assist them for a fee. At this point, the individual may choose to remain in jail until their court date or get a bond to post bail. Different types of crime in Texas will have different charges according to the bail schedule. "text": "A bail bond is a surety bond in the amount of a defendants bail. The pros of using a Texas commercial bail bondsman over paying the state the entire bond is that you save 90%. But the hours are long and grueling -- sometimes 80 to 100 hours a week, and the work is tough. HowBailBondsWork is an information and directory service. Bail is the amount of money that defendants have to post in order to stay home during their trial.1 Those who do not post bail will have to wait for their trial behind bars. At this point, the bonds company becomes responsible and assures the court that the defendant will appear for the trial. They are about the same as you will find in other states. A bail bondsman will pay the entire bail amount if the defendant intends to attend all court dates and pays a little more for the service. A bail bond company works . BAIL. Can I get 0 down bail bonds? Bail jumping is a crime that can be prosecuted in both federal and state courts. For example, if you have been detained and arrested by I.C.E., or the Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, you can use an immigration bond to gain release from detention until your court hearings. The United States is one of the few countries in the world that permit defendants to use a bail bondsman. How to Find Out if There is a Warrant for Your Arrest. Other factors can influence the amount, as well. Since bail is typically a large amount, often thousands of dollars, most defendants cannot pay their bail out of pocket. CODE OF CRIMINAL PROCEDURE. PR release, as it is often called, allows defendants to await their trial at home without posting bail, at all. This comes out to a 50 percent increase between 2001 and 2006. When the defendant isnt in custody, prosecutions dont move as quickly. Arrestees who are given bail amounts have two options to make their bail. The same factors that were used to decide whether bail should be granted will apply to bail. The defendant is responsible for paying the company back. Its purpose is to ensure the defendant shows up in court. Gov. For example, if a defendant's bail is $10,000, the agent may charge the defendant a nonrefundable fee of $1,000 to post a bail bond in the amount of $10,000 with the court. Choose to Sign with a Professional Bail Bondsman: A bail agent or bail bondsman can act as a surety and post bail for the defendant. Courts have the authority to release offenders on their recognizance. After an arrest occurs in Texas, the person is usually processed at the local county jail. A cash bond means the court will accept only cash for the full amount of bail, not a bond that's secured by equity in property or other collateral. Like everything regarding bail and bonds, bond reduction in Texas is a serious matter. Previously, Harris County, as well as Dallas and Galveston counties, relied on "fixed" bail schedules, which set bails at predetermined amounts and fail to consider an . The collateral generally falls to vehicles, real estate or other valuables which can be re-sold for the total amount of the bail that was set. So, what exactly does a bounty hunter do? Make sure to visit your counties website to determine the exact fee structure, or simply talk to a nearby bondsman and openly ask them about the county regulations. Can I leave the state when on bond? . This means you will have a local contact as your bondsman in Texas and they should be able to quickly arrive at the jail to release you. However, if the defendant fails to appear in court, they will not be reimbursed. Understanding how the bond process works along with the charges and fees associated with bail bonds is very important so that you will know what to pay and who to pay. If the defendant has the cash, then it is simple; they pay the total amount to the court and get a release with a pending trial. Consult a federal criminal defense attorney if you were given a federal bail and have not been released from jail. A co-signer vouches for the defendant and ensures they have support on the outside in getting back on track and to trial. This level of regulation at the county levels is a reason why Texas has a large amount of bail bondsmen. A cash bail means that the full amount of the bond is paid for in cash to the jail or court. "@type": "Question", ", "text": "Different types of crime in Texas will have different charges according to the bail schedule. The court will also issue a warrant for the defendants arrest. Whether youre borrowing a bail bond for yourself or someone else, make sure you know what you are doing. A bail bond does not guarantee immediate release from jail. When a person is charged with a crime and taken to jail, there is a booking process that will usually last for an hour or two before the defendant is given a court date where they will face their charges. In exchange for posting bail, the defendant pays the company a bail premium. Consider the above info so that you can make the decision that is best for you. Courts can even release defendants on personal recognizance. If the bail is paid, or posted, the defendant can be released from custody pending trial. Houston DWI Defense & Criminal Defense Matthew Sharp. Judges have the discretion to set bail higher or lower than the amount on the schedule, based on the circumstances. These are not as common, but they can and do still happen. XML SITEMAP | HTML SITEMAP | PRIVACY POLICY, Bail can typically be posted in three ways. If the defendant appears in court for trial, they get their money back. Score: 4.6/5 ( 75 votes ) Bail Bonds in Texas. How do bail bonds work in Texas? It is always a good idea to look up the bondsmans information on the county bail bond board website. "@context": "https://schema.org", It can be harder to get a bond placed for you to be released when the bail amount is high. A bail bond is a surety bond in the amount of a defendants bail. However, if the defendant has no ties to the Texas community and can fly away when given bail, the bail amount may be set higher. 4 Ways to Get Out of Jail. Its a fee that the Texas bail bonds company will keep. The person who posted bail for the defendant will be paid their money at the conclusion of the case if the accused shows up to court on the scheduled date. You'll be released from policy custody in exchange for the cash. This depends on rules of the court you have to follow. "text": "The court stipulates specific rules for bail. It is recommended that you use a more professional bail company to assist you with all requirements due to the complex nature of immigration bail bonds. If it is not posted, he or she will most likely remain in custody while awaiting trial. If you need a reputable bail bondsman in Texas, Ignition Interlock Device (IID) Providers. Rather than having one set fee percentage that is charged for each bail bond in the state, Texas allows each county to regulate its bail bond system in accordance to Chapter 17.04 (Texas Occupations Code). Defendants who post bail and then miss a court date forfeit their bail money. If you have a higher bond, you may have to provide the . If youre arrested, you might be eligible for bail. Personal recognizance - It is most common for first-time offenders of non-violent crimes to be given the opportunity to be released on their own promise to return for all court hearings. Search for Texas bail bonds companies via our form above; please make sure to enter the city AND state. Are you looking for a bail bond in Texas or information on bail? You will find that the basic process with a bail bond company is going to be essentially the same across the state of Texas. The bail bond agent works with the defendant and their loved ones to get a bail bond to secure his or her release. If you or your lawyer feel the bail has been set too high, there are options for a motion to reduce bond Texas lawyers will often use. Choosing a Bail Bond Company Doesn't Have to Be Difficult. PR release, as it is commonly known, permits offenders to await their trial from home without having to pay a bond at all. Property bonds are another type of bail that can be posted. Greg Abbott prioritized changing how bail is set. The bail forfeited if the accused does not show up to court on the date. These bonds are often very costly and difficult to obtain. He previously served as a state and federal prosecutor and magistrate, making his content contributions extremely relevant on legal and bail related topics.